1 Feb 2016

Reds starlet Jerome Sinclair appears to be a dead man walking at Anfield. The young striker reportedly wants out of Anfield, and with Watford still trying to sign him, it appears that Liverpool are willing to let him leave, but only on the club's terms.

"Jerome Sinclair has told Liverpool he wants to leave. Rather than moving as a free agent in the summer, when he could secure a larger signing-on fee, he wants to start playing first-team football quickly".

"Liverpool reject improved offer of £1.5m rising to £3m from Watford for Jerome Sinclair. Liverpool want to use Sinclair as a makeweight in other deals".

Sinclair - hailed by Jamie Carragher for his 'outstanding' finishing - can leave for free at the end of the season, which clearly means that now (i.e. the January transfer window), is the only time Liverpool can use him as a 'makeweight'.

As such, this may mean that Liverpool are working behind the scenes on a last minute deadline-day deal, which will include Sinclair being used as part-payment for an (as yet) unnamed player.

In my view, Liverpool are right to reject Watford's pitiful offer, but it'll be interesting to see what happens if Watford come back a viable offer (say, £7m-£10m) in the next 8-hours.

As I argued last week, with the appalling promotion prospects for Academy attackers, leaving Anfield is the best thing Sinclair can do for his career. What's the point in keeping an unhappy player, especially one who'll be able to leave for free in a few months?

Surely, the best thing to do is cash-in now, or use Sinclair as a 'makeweight' today, when he has some value in that capacity?